Page 30 of Say Now
And still, the snow continued to fall.
Alison was sitting on the couch in an almost catatonic state, too worried and on edge to fall asleep, but her body was craving the rest.
She shot up and went to the door to see Claire standing there.Alison waited by the living room door, looking around for a weapon in case she needed one.
"What’s going on?"came the murmur from the room.
"My name is Special Agent Claire Martinez," Claire said, her hand near her gun."We brought you home last night."
"What?"Steven’s voice was dry and raspy."What are you doing in my house?"
"We need to talk with you, Dr.Laurent.We tried to talk to you last night at the bar, but you were in no state."
"Just leave me alone, okay?I don't have time for this."
"Why don't you have time for this?"
"Because I don't want to talk with you."
Claire stepped back and down the hallway as Steven got up from the bed and stumbled out of the room.He ignored Claire from then on as he made his way to the kitchen.Claire followed him, and Alison backtracked into the living room and toward the kitchen as she headed him off at the other side.
Steven went to the sink and ran the water, grabbing one of the glasses from beside and filling it.He gulped down the water, spilling some on his chin.
"I’m Dr.Alison Payne," Alison said.
Steven didn't turn, nor did he seem surprised by the second woman in his home,
"I’m also a criminal psychologist," she said."We spoke to one of your colleagues last night, and I understand what you’re going through.I’ve been in the same position as you many times when I’ve questioned my decision.I’m not going to tell you that it wasn’t your fault because you wouldn’t believe it anyway.You need to come to that conclusion on your own.However, we do want to talk about the three dead people in Missoula.Dr.Kent, Dr.Hartley, and Dr.Gates were murdered.You all worked on the same case at some point.James Costner.Did you have any contact with any of them?"
Steven rubbed a hand over his face and swallowed loudly, looking like he might throw up."I don't know them.Honestly, I don't care about anything happening down in Missoula.I barely care about anything happening here.Just leave me to deal with this on my own.I know I’m self-destructing and filled with pity, but that’s a heck of a lot better than feeling any other way right now, and you don't know what it’s like.If you did, you wouldn’t be here to tell me you understood, so please get out of my house."
"We can't do that, Dr.Laurent," Claire said from behind him."You’ve been off work for a month.I need to know where you’ve been in that month.Give us an alibi for the three murders, and we can leave."
Steven laughed, then swallowed hard again.His shoulders sagged."I don't even know what day it is."
‘You need to try," Claire said."Anything you can remember from this past week.You need to focus."
"I told that cop already," Steven moaned."He came and asked about them.He asked about that case.He wanted to know about them.I don't know anything about them."
"When was he here?"Alison asked.
"I don't know.Last week?Last month?I have no idea, okay?"
"What was the cop's name?Do you remember that?"Claire asked.
"I don't know."Steven shook his head."Carrasco?Castro?Callahan?Something like that."
"Castellano?"Claire asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, that was the guy.Castellano."
Claire fell silent.
Alison looked over at Claire.Claire shook her head and frowned.
"What is it?"Alison asked.
"Detective Castellano was the lead on the cases connected to Dr.Kent and Dr.Hartley.After the inmates were released and killed again, he led both investigations."
